2 April 2011

Say Goodbye to Winter with Ravioli Lasagna with Sausage and Mushrooms

Ravioli Lasagna with Sausage and Mushrooms

When a person works six days a week out of sheer necessity weekday meals need to be quick or at the very least can be prepared ahead. This "faux lasagna" comes together in a matter of minutes and only requires you to cook the sausage and assemble layers of premade ravioli for a filling dish that is a perfect ending to winter fare!! As we follow the natural course from winter into spring, our bodies welcome transitional recipes that will warm us to the core and prepare us for a fresh start when Spring arrives.

This week's warm weather brought with it the promise of Spring, the gentle breezes, the sight of green grass and, of course...potholes. Anyone not in the sunny southern climates needs to polish up your off-road driving skills to avoid the bone-jarring, teeth-rattling and suspension-testing canyons that emerge during the spring thaw. Now don't get me wrong I actually welcome potholes with open arms. Just like the sighting of your first Robin potholes are a sign that Spring has truly arrived in the sunny Okanagan! For that I am eternally grateful!!!!

On my day off I took a drive along Westside Road to catch a glimpse of the Big Horn Sheep. I did see 20 deer and plenty of road crews repairing the roads and filling in those inevitable potholes after the Spring thaw but no Big Horn Sheep. That I am writing this post today is testament to my driving skills. After the hair raising drive along sundappled Okanagan Lake the promise of this comforting dish I prepared ahead was a welcome lunch with a crisp spinach salad on the side.

The glimmer of the idea came from my friend Jerry of Jerry's Thoughts Musings and Rants, the recipe adapted from the Canadian magazine Chatelaine. Get out to your local grocers and have these ingredients on hand for a tasty weekday meal. This one is for you Ang since you read my blog:D



I am sending this dish over to Ruth for Presto Pasta Nights . Ruth at Once Upon a Feast just celebrated their 5 year anniversary. Can you believe it Ruth!!! You will always find a myriad of delicious dishes from lasagna to Pho on Ruth's Presto Pasta Night site. This week the event is being hosted by Alli of Yum in Tum. So get your healthy carbs on!!!


**Ravioli Lasagna with Sausage and Mushrooms**

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
500 g mild Italian sausage, removed from casings
796 ml can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 cup 35 percent cream or milk
227 g cremini mushrooms
handful fresh basil
700 g package fresh ravioli, preferably spinach and ricotta cheese
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese or mixture of provolone and mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350F.

Heat a large pot over medium. Add oil, then onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft, about 3 min. Add sausage meat. Mash with a fork, stirring often to keep meat crumbly. Cook until no longer pink, about 5 min. Add tomatoes and oregano. Season with fresh pepper. Stir in cream or milk until combined. Add mushrooms to pot. Tear basil and add to sauce. Stir to incorporate all ingredients.

Pour a layer of sauce into a 9 x 13-in. baking dish. Make a layer of  ravioli. Add a layer of sauce and then 1/2 the cheese. Make another layer of ravioli. Pour remaining sauce over top, then sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.

Bake in centre of oven, uncovered, until ravioli are cooked through and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison. Best Blogger Tips

27 comments:

  1. Mmmm. After licking my screen I know that I have to try this recipe. :)

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  2. A great way of saying goodbye to winter! That is one droolworthy lasagna.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  3. oh my goodness, ravioli lasagna!! this looks absolutely comforting and delicious! My kind of food!! Hope all is well with you Val!

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  4. Well, you know I love this but I'm still low-carbing it so I can't linger long here. Good one Val!

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  5. Ravioli Lasagna... How wonderfully decadent! I love it. And I licked the screen - delicious - but could use more oregano, I think.

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  6. I love your faux lasagna...:D)!! Looks so bright and beautiful!!

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  7. Love lasagna Valk and this look delicious! gloria

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  8. I can relate to the potholes! This sounds wonderful after a day of bone-jarring driving :)

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  9. I love the cheaty-ness of ravioli lasagna. It's like half the work, with even more flavor!

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  10. I adore ravioli so this faux lasagna sounds good to me! Love how easy it is to throw together!

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  11. Oh, I'm definitely ready to say goodbye to winter! This looks like a lovely dish to welcome spring. I love a quick and easy weeknight dinner. :)

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  12. You have at ravioli lasagna! Looks so mouthwatering!

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  13. Instead of potholes, we got a huge slide on the main highway. Fortunately, we are not directly affected, but it will be a while before traffic can return to normal. Rain has stopped, fortunately, but now it's incredibly windy. I guess that's a good way to dry things out. Your recipe is a very interesting way to handle time limitations and still have a great dinner. I hope spring arrives soon.

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  14. It really is the perfect dish for the changing seasons. And since Spring is at the "tricking us" stage - back and forth between sunny & warm, and more snow.

    As for potholes, we on the East Coast are no stranger!

    It really is quite incredible that Presto Pasta Night is in its fifth year... couldn't have done it without your support, not to mention great pasta dishes of your own. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Would love this I know. I need to get the ingredients to have on hand. I remember potholes. Not fun. Growing up in Michigan with tons of snow always made the Spring treacherous with bad roads.

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  16. Lasagna is always a hit in our home and this one would be a winner as well. I love the ease of preparation and the flavors featured. YUM!

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  17. Wow! What a great idea :) I love simple recipes for weeknight meals, and am definitely adding this one to my line-up. Thank you!

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  18. I'm with the screen licker! This looks incredible!

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  19. Easy and YUM O - what more can I say.

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  20. This looks so yummy and so comforting!

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  21. I like the concept Val..and it does look delish!

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  22. What an amazing recipe - I can't wait to try it! Thanks so much for the submission!

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  23. This takes lasagna to a new level and it does so easily. I have to give this a try. I know, already, I will love it.

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  24. cheesy ravioli as a base for cheesy lasagna is a marvelous idea! great recipe, val!

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  25. We're definitely ready to say goodbye to winter here in Fethiye. That lasagne looks like the perfect way to do it, too! We're going to a mushroom festival at the weekend as the first morels of the season should be out. Very exciting! :)

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  26. What a great idea...so easy and delicious.

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  27. this is fabulous val, such a great timesaving idea!

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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